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Alcohol is a recipe for disaster when it comes to thrush. ​

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Firstly alcohol metabolises into sugars which is the perfect food source for candida. Sugar spikes in particular are likely to trigger or maintain a thrush infection. 

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Secondly, alcohol is an immunosuppressant, meaning your body's natural resistance against diseases like thrush decreases. 

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This happens in two ways. 

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• Innate immune system impairment

  • Your innate immune system is your first line of defence. It broadly recognises pathogens and consists of white blood cells, natural killer cells and mast cells. 

  • Alcohol impairs the mentioned immune cells — reducing their ability to find and kill microbes and call in other immune cells. 

• Adaptive immune system impairment

  • Alcohol changes T-cell numbers and function (cells that remember past infections and specifically target those infections). They can reduce antibody production after infection, lowering long-term, specific immunity. 

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Can I drink alcohol whilst taking thrush medication?

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It's a very bad idea as it increases the risk of having one severe thrush infection that could lead to neuropathic vestibulodynia. 

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So in short no - don't drink.

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Pharmaceutical companies may state it is safe to drink whilst taking the anti-fungals but this simply means there are no known adverse interactions between alcohol molecules and the drug. Like the rest of the field of gynaecology, licensing companies are unaware of the link between thrush and vulva nerve damage. Their guidelines are unfortunately not safe. Again, this is linked to systemic gender inequality in medicine – not enough research, attention and focus on women's health conditions, including thrush and vulvodynia. 

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Alternatives to alcohol

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Many are choosing the sober life for the varied health benefits it offers. If you're looking for non-alcoholic drinks that still have a sense of fun and fizz check out these brands.

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Copenhagen Sparkling Tea

Mother Root

Lo Bros Kombucha

Coconut Water – (So healthy it's used intravenously in dehydrated patients in remote areas, also has antifungal properties)